Engine starter



May 20, 1930. M. P. WHITNEY 1,159,077

ENGINE STARTER FiledJuly 15. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l M. P. WHITNEY ENGINE STARTER May 20, 1930.

Filed July 15, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. P. WHITNEY ENGINE STARTER May 20, 1930..

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 15. 1927 Patented May 20, 1930 umrao STATES PATENT 'oF lcE maunrcn r. wn'rrnny, OFI'IELMIRA, new YORK, assrenon 'ro nomrsn MACHINE contrm, or ELMIRA, new You, a' conrona'rron' or NEW YORK Emma sranrnn Application filed July 15 My invention has, relation to means for starting and cranking an engine such as an internal combustion engine and more particularly to that part of such a starting means or apparatus known as the drive or transmission which transmits the power of a prime mover such as an electric motor to a part or member of the engine to be started, such as the flywheel thereof. The object of my invention is to provide a drive or trans mission of novel construction and functioning and resulting in advantages which will be apparent from the description hereinafter given. My drive is characterized more par-' l8 ticularly by the provision of a unitary clutch structure which is independent in functional operation of any parts extraneous thereto. In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of an engine starter embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 an end elevation of one form of screw sleeve; n Fig. 4 an elevation partly in section of such sleeve; Fi s. 5 and 6 detail views of the control mem er or nut; Figs. 7 and 8 detail views of the clamping disk applied to the screw shaft, 8 being 39 a section on the line 8-8 of Fi Figs. 9 and 10 detail views 0 the barrel," Ffi 10 being a section 'on' the line 10-10 0 i 9; Y

Fig s. 11 and 12 detail views of the inion; Figs. 13 and 14 views similarto i'gs. 3 alnd 4 but. illustrating another form of screw s eeve.

1 15 a sectional elevation of aq'modified form of construction of drive Fig. 16 a section on the line 16 -,16 of -Fig. 15p 1 v I -For the purpose of a clear an'd definite disclosure of my invention I have described the same embodiedin a certain specific structure, but it will'be understood that suchinvention may. be embodied in somewhat different formation and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and'moreover, it will be understood that while I have herein shown what is known 1927. Serialno. 205,903.

as the direct form of drive, that is with the drive directly mounted upon the extended armature shaft of the prime mover or electric motor, the same, is equally applicable to the indirect form of drive.

Referring to the particular embodiment of my inventionas illustrated in the drawings, the prime mover is an'electric motor 1 and as the embodiment herein is. of the direct drive type such motor is provided with an extended armature shaft 2 on which the drive or transmissionis mounted and b which it is driven. This motor has a suitable switch and electric connections, such switch being indicated at 1 and the switch button at 1".

The drive or transmission'is formed as an assembly which is readily applicable to and detachable from such extended armature shaft 2 and the same includes in the present instance a shaft which is in the form of a sleeve 3 shown separately in Figs. 13 and 14, and which is-mounted upon the armature shaft for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof through suitable means as for instance a seriesof splines 4 on the armature shaft with their intervening grooves and the series of corresponding splines 5 and their intervening grooves in the bore. .of thesleeve 3. This sleeve has a smooth surface portion 6 on which slides the shifter sleeve 7 against the tension of a spring 8 which is interposed between such shifter sleeve and a spring abutment 9 secured to the screw sleeve intermediate its length and adjacent the screw threads 10 thereof- 1' The driving-member is here in the form of a pinion 11 havin a central smooth bore in which is'preferab y arranged a bushing Y12 and such pinion is adapted to slide upon the smooth portion ofthe' armature shaft which portion is beyond-the ends of the splines 4. This pinion is adapted to mesh with the engine member which is here a flywheel .13.

This pinion is provided with a hub extension 14 -with which one set of the friction clutch plates'interlock as hereinafter explained.

-Upon the threads 10 of the sleeve 3 there is threaded the control member which is here in the form of a. nut 15 provided at one and pinion and the other set with the barrel through the medium of the slots 19. The ring 21, shown separately in Figs. 7 and 8 is interlocked with the outer end of the screw sleeve as by means of the radial tongues 23 in such ring and slots 24 in such outer end of the screw sleeve. By preference a plain ring or washer 25 is interposed between the clutch plates and the flange 20 and a washer or ring 26is interposed between the outer face of the flange 20 and the pinion.

A light spring 27 is operatively connected with the nut, here shown as indirectly connected thereto through the barrel or rather the cap 28 thereof which is secured to the barrel by screwing thereon or otherwise after the parts have been assembled within the barrel. This spring is a torsion spring inasmuch as'one end thereof is secured to the abutment or plate 9 and the other end to the cap 28, whereby the nut has a tendency to be moved in a. direction towards the right on the screw shaft so as to apply a light or initial pressure upon the clutch plates.

I Any suitable shifting means may be employed for shifting the sleeve 7 longitudinal- 1y along the armature shaft. As herein shown such shifting means comprises a lever 29 which is pivoted at 30 upon a casing 31 detachably connected to the frame of the electric motor and having a bearing support 32 for such that no stop is required for the pinion.

supporting the outer end of the armature shaft. This end-of the shaft is provided with a sleeve 33, but in this particular construction this sleeve does not constitute a stop nut, inasmuch as the construction of the drive is This lever 29 is manually or pedally operated (hereinafter for, convenience referred to as manually operated) by connections or linkage extending within convenient reach of the driver or operator, such linkage not being shown except for a smooth portion of a rod 34. This lever 29 is provided with an extension or branch arm 35 in whose path of movement the switch button 1 is interposed. The lower end 36 of this lever is positioned between the flanges 37 of the shifter sleeve 7 for operating such sleeve.

Describing a cycle of operation, and beginning with the partsin the normal position shown in Fig. 1, the operator actuates' the lever 29 by oscillating the same in a clockwise direction, whereupon the shifter sleeve means? 7 will be moved to the left carrying with it the entire assembly of drive and moving it to the left and meshing the pinion'with the flywheel. In case of perfect register of the teeth this assembly moves freely along the armatureshaft, the pinion sliding upon the smooth portion thereof and the screw sleeve sliding upon the splined ortion thereof. When the pinion is in sufiiciently full mesh with the flywheel the switch 1 is actuated by the lever 29 and the motor is thereupon energized,"whereuponthe armature shaft will be rotated and consequently the screw sleeve. The control member or nut 15 is now advanced longitudinally to the rightand inasmuch as it is in interlocked engagement with the barrel it will carry such barrel in the same direction, thereby moving the flange 20 0f the barrel in the same direction and causing a squeezing or clamping of the clutch plates between such flange and the pressure ring 21, it being understood that at this time the screw sleeve while rotating does not move longitudinally but such clutch plates being caused to move longitudinally to the-right against the clamping ring 21 which form substantially an integral part of the outer end of the screw'sleeve. It will also be understood that in this operation the clutch plates of one set move longitudinally with respect to the hub extension 14, the groove 38 whereof is of sufiicient width to accommodate such movement and yet permit the retaining ring 39 to hold the assembly in position upon the pinion. The torque of the motor will thereupon be transmitted through the drive to the flywheel to crank and start the engine. When the engine starts on its own power the operator will or should release the pressure upon the lever 29 so as to permit the same to withdraw the drive assembly from mesh with the flywheel. If, however, the operator should neglect or delay to so remove the pressure on the lever 29 the excess speed of rotation of the flywheel will drive the pinion 11 and will cause the nut 15 to move slightly to the left, thereby releasing the clamping of. the clutch plates and permitting the pinion to run freely and without rotating the other parts of the drive or the armature and its shaft.

In the event. that the pinion teeth and the flywheel teeth should abut end to end the shifter sleeve 7 will continue to slide along the screw sleeve while the pinion is in its arrested position bearing against the flywheel teeth, such movement being against the tension of the spring 8. .The continued movement of the'lever 29 will actuate the motor switch and the motor will be energized whereupon the screw sleeve will be rotated and the nut 15 will be operated to move longitudinally to the right, and when'suflire 1':- of the teeth whereupon the spring 9 .trol member mounted on the shaft for lon- I 8' 'which is now under tension will move the pinion into full mesh and the cranking and starting operation as before.

In Figs. 15 and 16 I have shown a modified form of construction. in which the parts corresponding to those shown in Fig. 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals. This modification is the same as that of Fig. 1 with the exception that instead of a splined of the engine will result connection betweenthe screw shaft and the armature shaft long lead threads40 are provided and the torsion spring 27 of Fig. 1 is. .dispensed with. Also by reason of the protrol member mounted on the shaft for longitudinal movement thereof'and rotary movement therewith, and a multiple plate friction clutch operatively connected with the driving member and the control 'memberfor the transmission of torque from the latter to the former, said control member having p1 0- vlilsipbn to clamp the clutch plates against said s a 2. An engine starter. drive includinga rotatable sha t mounted for longitudinal and rotary movements, a driving member mounted for longitudinal movement to engage a member of the engine to be started, a control member mounted on the shaft for longitudi nal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, nd a multiple plate friction clutch oper tively connected with the driv ing member and the control member for the transmission of torque fromthe latter to the former, said control member being arranged on one side of the clutch plates and having provision to clamp the clutch plates against said shaft including an extension extendingover said clutch plates and engaging the other side thereof.-

3. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft-mounted for longitudinal and rotary movements, a'driving member mounted for longitudinal "movement to engage a member ofthe engine'to be started, a congitudinal movement thereof and rotary movementtherewith, and a multiple plate.

friction clutch operatively connected with the driving member and the control member for the transmission of torque from the latmounted for longitudinal and her to the former,said control member being arranged on one sideofthe clutch plates and having provision'to clamp the clutch plates against said shaft including an extension extending over said clutch plates and engaging the other side thereof, and yielding means constantly urging the control means in such clutch clamping direction.

4. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft mounted for longitudinal and rotary movements, a driving member mounted for longitudinal movement to engage a member of the'en'gine to be started, a control member mounted on the shaft for longitudi- .nal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, and a multiple plate friction clutch 'operatively connected with the driving member and the control member for the transmission of torque from the latter to the former, said control member being arranged on' one side of the clutch plates and having provision to clamp the clutch plates against said shaft including an extensionextending over said clutch plates and engaging the other side thereof, and a spring cooperating with the controlmember and tending to move it longitudinally toapply a constant clamping pressure upon said clutch plates.

5. An engine starter drive including a'ro- I tatable shaft mounted for longitudinal and rotary movements, a driving member mounted for longitudinal movement to engage a member of the engine to be started, a control member mounted'on the shaft for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, and a multiple plate friction clutch operatively connected with the driving member and the control member for the trans mission of torque from the latter to the former, said control member being arranged on one side of the clutch plates and having provision to clamp the clutch plates against said shaft including an extension extending over said clutch plates and engaging the other side thereof, and a torsion spring connecting between the control member and shaft and tending to move such member longitudinally to apply a constant, clamping pressure upon said clutch -plates.- i

6. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft mounted -for longitudinal and rotary movements, a driving member mount ed forlongitudinal movement to engage a member of the engine to be started, a control member mounted on the shaft for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith, and a' multiple plate friction clutch operatively'connectedwlth the driving 1 member and the control member for the transmission of torque from the latter to the former, said control member being arranged on one side-of the'clutch plates and having provision to clamp the clutch plates against said shaftincludingan extension extending over said clutch plates and engaging the other side I connected with the barrel and also with the thereon,

' 7. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a sleeve mounted on anddriven by such shaft and shiftable longitudinall thereon, a pinion mounted on the shaft in a vance of the sleeve and'adapted tomove longitudinally on such shaft, a nut threaded on i p the sleeve at its end adjacent the pinion, and

a multiple plate friction clutch operatively connecting the nut and pinion.

8. An en ine starter drive including a rotatable shaf t, a sleeve mounted on and driven by such shaft and shiftable longitudinally thereon, a pinion mounted on the shaft in advance of the sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally on such shaft, a nut threaded on the sleeve at its end adjacent the pinion, a multiple plate friction clutch operatively connecting the nut and pinion and located between the pinion and said end of the sleeve, and adapted to be clamped between thev nut and such end of the sleeve.

9. An en ine starter drive including, a rotatable sha t, a sleeve mounted on and driven by such shaft and shiftable lon itudinally thereon, a pinion mounted on the s aft in adgitudinally on such shaft, a nut threaded on the sleeve at its end adjacent the pinion, a barrel connected with the nut, and a multiple plate, friction clutch arranged within and pinion, and adapted to be clamped against the sleeve.

10. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a sleeve mounted on and driven by such shaft and shiftable longitudinally a pinion mounted on the shaft in advance of the sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally on such shaft, a nut threaded on the sleeve at'its end adjacent the pinion, a barrel connected with the nut, a flange at said end ofthe sleeve forming an abutment. and a multiple plate friction clutch arranged within and connected with the barrel and also with the pinion and adapted to be clamped against such abutment by longitudinal movement of the nut and barrel in one direction.

11. Anengine starter drive includingard tatable shaft, a sleeve mounted on and driven by such shaft and shiftable longitudinally thereon, a pinion mounted on the shaft'in advance of the sleeve and adapted to move 1on gitudinally on such shaft, a nut threaded on inion, a

the sleeve at its and adjacent the ed with barrel which is at one end interloc vance of the sleeve and adapted to move lon-' and thereby driven by the nut and has at its other end an internal flange, plate friction clutch arranged within and connected with the barrel, and also connected with the pinion, and interposed be tween said flange and said end of the sleeve against which they are clamped by the action 0 the nut.

12. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a sleeve mounted on and driven by such shaft and shiftalble longitudinally thereon, a pinion mounted on the shaft in advance of the sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally on such shaft, a nut threaded on the sleeve at its end adjacent the pinion, a barrel which is at one end interlocked with and thereby driven by the nut and has at its other end an internal flange, and a multiple plate friction clutch arranged within and connected with the barrel, and also connected with the pinion, and'interposed between said flange and said end of the sleeve against which they are clamped by the action of the nut, and a spring cooperating with the nut and tending to move it in a direction to apply pressure upon the friction plates through said barrel and its flange.

13. An engine starter drive'including a rotatable shaft, a sleeve mounted on and driven by such shaft and shiftable longitudinally thereon, a pinion mounted on the shaft in ad vance of the sleeve and adapted to move longitudinally on such shaft, a nut threaded on the sleeve at its end adjacent the pinion, a

barrel whichis at one end interlocked with and thereby driven by the nut and has at its other end an internal flange, and a multiple plate friction clutch arranged within and connected with the barrel, and also connected with the pinion, and interposed between said flange and said end of the sleeve against which they are clamped by the action of the nut, a retainer ring on the sleeve, and a torsion spring connecting between the ring and the barrel and acting on the nut to move it in a direction to apply pressure upon the friction plates through said barrel and its flange. 14;. An engine starter drive including a rotatable shaft, a sleeve mounted on and driven by such shaft and shiftable longitudinally thereon, a pinion mounted on the shaft in advance of the sleeve and adapted to move lonigtudinally on such shaft, a nut threaded on the sleeve at its end adjacent the pinion, a multiple plate friction clutch operatively connecting. the nut and pinion, said sleeve being splined to the shaft, and annually operated means for shifting the sleeve upon the shaft. 15. An engine starter drive including r0- tatable shaft, a sleeve mounted on and driven by such shaft and shiftable longitudinal] thereon, a pinion mounted on the shaft in ad vance of the sleeve and adapted to mfive longituy on such shaft, a nut threaded on and a multiple llti the sleeve at its end adjacent the pinion, a barrel which is at one end interlocked with and thereby driven by the nut and has at its other end an internal flange, and a multiple plate friction clutch arranged within and connected with the barrel, and also connected with the pinion, andinterposed between said.

flange and said end of the sleeve against which they are clamped by the action of the nut, a retainer ring on the sleeve, a torsion spring connecting between the ring and barrel and acting on the nut to move it in a direcv my name.

MAURICE WHITNEY. 

